Dental disease is the most significant welfare problem in companion rabbits, with root elongation and malocclusion causing chronic pain that is difficult to manage and often progressive.
Rabbit dental disease causes chronic pain that is often severe and difficult to fully resolve. The progressive nature of root elongation and malocclusion means that many affected rabbits experience years of oral pain, facial abscesses, and difficulty eating. The welfare challenge is compounded by rabbits' stoicism and owners' difficulty in recognising subtle dental pain signs. Prevention through hay provision is the most impactful welfare intervention available: hay grinds teeth correctly, prevents spurs from forming, and maintains dental alignment. Breed selection that avoids extreme brachycephalic facial conformation reduces the structural risk of dental disease.